The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1887-06-03
NORMAL SCHOOL EXERCISES.

ment of the Model school. The teach
ers of the Model school are deserving o.
great credit for the work they expended
upon the preparation of the exercises
and they are To be congratulated on the
unqualified success of the entertain
ment.
The class that graduated from the Mod
ell department numbers six, and is as
follows: Maud A. Fowler, Marion III
McClelland, Fanny Pitcher, Nettie J
Severance, Fred. Nj. Trinque and Nh
norah Il. Zimmerman.
rUBLIC SESSION OF THE NORMAL LITERARY
SOCIETY.
i Normal Hall was crowded To its ut
most capacity last night, and seats could
not be obtained by those who arrived
late. Although the time announced for
beginning the exercises was S;l5 O'Clock
il was fully S:45 before the opening eN-
ercise commenced. Mr.. Perrin, chair.
man on committee on program, called
the meeting to order and stated that
they had been disappointed i'm obtain.
| ing the orchestra on account OF its annual
inspection. He stated that two of the
members of the graduating class who
had principal parts on the program, had
been called away within week on ac-
count of sickness i'm the family and that
their parts were taken by persons who
had scarcely had time to prepare them
selves. He stated this in justice to those
concerned and begged forbearance on
the part of the audience if the exercises
| were not what they could wish.
The first thing on the program was an
instrumental solo by Miss Vranizan.
The young lady showed herself to be an
expert on the piano, and to be highly
endowed with musical gifts.
An essay by Mr.. Charles Monson fol-
lowed. Mr.. Monson chose as his sub
ject, "Does Mankind Degenerate?" He
said that a certain class of people are
taking a melancholy view of humanity,
and claim that it is degenerating. He
answered with deliberate mo" SLAM
derers of the present time who refer to
the good old times" forget to mention in
what period of history those times exist
ed. Their knowledge evidently came
from inward inspiration. The ancient
races of men were morally corrupt. The
good old times" did not exist at the
time the Romans and Greeks fiourished.
The Romans had their Nero and their
gladlators, while the Greeks were with
out chastity or morality. Ii was an age
of earnestness but the earnestness of
bigotry. The world was then ruled by
the sword and there was no true manli-
ness. The middle and latter part OF the
Middle Ages were no better; they were
the age of heretics and superstition.
Crime went unpublished. 1t was an age
of fighters. We must shudder at an
age when the noblest men were fighters.
Referring to the present time he said
that lntemperance was no longer a
necessary attribute of kings, as IN the
the time of Alexander. He thought
that humanity was advancing. Though
there was still much moral weakness,
there was more moral courage than for
merly. Mankind was more advanced
than ever before, stronger in virtue and
purer in religion.
HIS essay was very ably and logically
written and was well read.
Miss Hattie a. Hale and Mr.. T.. w.
Washburn sang duet entitled "In
Meadows Green" Miss Arietta Wagner
accompanying. IL was very happily
rendered, and received merited APP
plause.
Cover Them Over With Beautiful
Flowers" was the title of poem which
Mr.. III. +. Perrin read. Mr.. Perrin is
an elocutionist of no mean degree and
read the piece admirably. The selec-
ton is beautiful in itself, but under Mr..
PERKINS, inspiration it was grand. He
was heartily applauded.
A tableau-''The Hanging of the
Crane"-in eight scenes, followed. 1t
was in charge of Miss Fiero and Mr..
Jesse Van Valkenburgh. The latter read
the piece as it was acted ont. The first
was the wedding scene, with Mr..
Charles Schellbach and Miss Dora Pear
son the principal actors. Several other
couples were present at the ceremony.
including Mr.. and Mrs. Geo. L. Barr,
The second scene was in "0ur Grand
mothers Kitchen" A cheerful fire in
the Fireplace lit up the room. Scene
third represented the fireside, the
couple embracing each other. Scene
four and five represented the domestic
board. In the fourth scene GA Little
Angel" had been added to the family
circle, though il acted very much like a
human being, and rather scared one
at that. In the fifth scene another child
had been added to the circle. A happy
home was represented IN scene sixth,
when the circle was still larger. Scene
seventh represented the circle as brok-
en-. The couple had grown old and
were alone. The last scene represented
the reunion, twenty or more being
present. The tableau was well prepar-
ed and exceedingly interesting through
out. The costumes were in keeping
with the characters and the acting was
excellent.
Mr.. Louis Schellbach presented well
| written farewell of the class of 'S7 to the
Literary Society. He said that it had
| been stated that persons school days
are his happiest days. Such was the
case. The student breaihes purer at
moSphere in school than he Is likely to
again, and the nature ofhis surroundings
| produce a noble effect. Looking over
| his own past, he found the years spent
at Mankato the pleasantest of his life,
and he had no doubt that others of his
class felt the same way. AS the final day
of their life at the Normal approached, a
feeling of sadness came over them. To
have finished the Normal course might
be considered insignificant by college
| professor, but 10 them it was full of
meaning, and deep satisfaction. Some
people always thought of "what might
| have been" but they cared less for that
than what might not have been. Indeed,
they felt gratified to possess that which
might not have been. The fact that this
was the last literary society which the
class should attend called forth sombre
reflections. These were the thoughts
which suggested few last words to the
society-to give voice to their feelings on
the day of separation. He urged all to
recognize the benefit of the Literary
Society, upon its active members, during
their whole future life. He strongly
4 urged them to take an interest in the
society and promised them ample re-
ward.
Mr.. Schellbach is fine reader and is
possessed of a splendid voice for elocu-
/ tionary work. He is capable of holding
the attention of an audience indefinite
ly. He created very favorable i'm
| preston upon his hearers.
The last number of the program was a
farce entitled "Turn him out" The
cast of characters was as follows:
Nicodemus Nobbs Ia Yankee peddler in Britainl
II. +. Perrin.
Mr.. Mcintosh MOke fan English gep,lem8nnI 49,,
Willie schellbach
susan ia maid Of all work. 49, Miss Mabel Runnes
Two Pe,eI Md sss%iat
The farce was a well selected one, in
teresting and full of humor. The diff.
ferent characters were well taken and
their parts well learned. The acting was
very good. Mr.. Perrin as the peddlel
was rich. He kept the audience con
vused with laughter the entire time
Mr.. Van Valkenberg made an excellent
J English gentleman, while Mr.. Schell
bach seemed to be born dude. The
} acting of both was perfect. Miss Noble
J performed her part well and the role o.
!. high bred lady came natural to her
Miss Runnels was complete success az
maid and her Irritation with "Mr. .
hs was highly interesting. All the
---- have reason to feel proud of theil
The farce passed off with NJ
zee happening to mar its eft